The Memphis Grizzlies approach the 2026 NBA offseason with their core in flux after a season that began with high expectations and ended in a full-scale reset.
How the Reset Began
Memphis opened last summer by sending guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for a package highlighted by four first-round picks. The move relieved future salary pressure created by near-maximum deals for Bane, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., but it also signaled the start of a broader overhaul.
2025/26 Season Struggles
The Grizzlies staggered to a 4-11 start as Morant clashed with first-year head coach Tuomas Iisalo over the offensive system. Rookie center Zach Edey, delayed by offseason ankle surgery, briefly boosted the club to a 7-4 mark in the games he played before a recurrence of ankle problems ended his season on December 7 after just 11 appearances. A second procedure followed in March.
Injuries piled up elsewhere: Morant appeared in only 20 games, and just three players—Cam Spencer, Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward—cleared the 55-game mark. With the roster depleted, executive vice president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman shifted fully into rebuild mode at the trade deadline, sending Jackson to the Utah Jazz in an eight-player deal that netted three future first-rounders.
Morant Market Remains Murky
Memphis explored offers for Morant in February but found limited interest. The 26-year-old’s calf and elbow issues, dip in production from his former All-NBA level, contract size and prior off-court concerns suppressed demand, even after the club reportedly lowered its asking price.
Keeping Morant prevented the franchise from entering the summer with a completely clean cap sheet, yet the Grizzlies still hold multiple 2026 first-round selections, including the No. 3 overall pick.
Offseason Outlook
Whether Morant is moved now hinges on both the trade proposals Kleiman receives and the guard’s own appetite to stay in Memphis. Publicly, Morant labeled himself a “loyal guy” in January and said he hoped to remain with the organization that drafted him, but league rumblings suggest he has not offered the same assurance privately.
Memphis will weigh those factors as it determines if this summer is the moment to complete the overhaul that began with the Bane deal and accelerated with Jackson’s departure.
Source: Hoops Rumors
